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Benefits I Will Receive

The Community Foundation continues to seek new and innovative ways to meet the needs of charitable donors. As the community’s permanent “Charitable Investment Firm,” our primary purpose is to work with donors who wish to return a portion of their resources to the community. Many donors choose to give through the Foundation because of the advantages a community foundation offers.

Permanent Guardianship Of Gifts

A gift to the Foundation may establish, or be added to, an endowment fund. These funds are structured to serve their intended purpose(s) in perpetuity.  The amount available for distribution is carefully established by the Foundation to ensure the preservation and long-term growth of each endowment fund.  Donors appreciate knowing that their contributions will extend beyond their lifetimes and will be safeguarded to serve the community as originally intended.

Maximum Tax Deductibility

The Community Foundation is classified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) and Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code. This status affords donors tax deductions for income and estate tax purposes to the maximum extent permissible under current tax law.

Special Tax Benefits

Donors contributing appreciated assets to the Foundation receive the following benefits: (1) capital gains taxes will not be levied on the donated property, and (2) an income tax deduction can be taken on the full, fair market value of the gift. These advantages apply if the assets have been owned for the requisite period of time (currently for at least one year and a day).

Tax-Sheltered Growth Of Funds

Contributions to charitable funds within the Foundation grow tax free. This means that donors are able to build charitable reserves in their names without incurring additional taxes.

Choice Of Charitable Beneficiaries

Donors are able to realize most charitable intents by designating the organizations or the philanthropic purposes to be served by their fund. Through the Foundation, donors have the freedom to structure funds to accomplish their charitable objectives.

Economies Of Scale

We strive to offer a better investment return to each participating fund within the Foundation through: (1) the pooling of assets, (2) the diversification of investments and (3) the reduction of costs to any one fund through shared expenses.

Recognition

Funds may be established in the name of the donor, the donor’s family, a friend, a business, a charitable purpose, or another organization. Those establishing endowment funds are guaranteed perpetual recognition through publications and through the annual distributions of grants in the name of the fund. Conversely, the Foundation understands and respects a donor’s wish for anonymity and will administer such gifts accordingly.

Flexibility

The Foundation carefully adheres to the terms of all gifts entrusted to its care. If the original purposes of a fund become obsolete or incapable of fulfillment, the Foundation has the responsibility to redirect the fund to other related purposes. That power is used sparingly and donors may rest assured that the spirit of their charitable objectives will be represented in perpetuity.

Accountability

Annual reviews through an independent audit, filing of tax returns, public disclosure of all grant activity, and careful selection of board members ensure continued use of funds in the public interest.

Foundation Within A Foundation

Affiliation with the Foundation offers the advantages of a private foundation without the attendant expense and time commitment. We relieve donors of the complications of administering their own foundations by assuming full responsibility for the efficient, prudent management of each fund entrusted to our care.

Grant funds from the Community Foundation helped provide updated technology. These upgrades were transformative. By creating new time saving processes, it turned us into a more efficient organization.

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

Grantee

YEP was a great experience to have in high school. I became a more confident person, someone with a lot more perspective. Coming from a small school, YEP allowed me to branch out into my community, meet students from other schools, and learn about their backgrounds. I made some great friends and still keep in touch with them today.

Abby Vagnoni

YEP Alumni

Education is important to us. We support causes that touch our lives and align with our values. We believe in paying it forward. We are here for a short time,, and it is the next generation that will take on what we leave behind.

Michelle Emanuel

Donor and Past Scholarship Recipient

YEP has made me realize the importance of being involved in my community, and how to make a difference. There are a lot of problems in the world but if we can do everything that we can to help the world will become a better place. YEP has helped me realize this and encouraged me to help more people in the future.

Madi Porter

YEP Member

I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Zari Foundation Scholarship and the Community Foundation in supporting my education. I am majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institue of Technology. In my spare time, I volunteer on campus, in the community and I’m also the principal violist in the symphony orchestra. I hope to make an impact on the next chapter of space exploration by eventually working at a groundbreaking aerospace company such as SpaceX or NASA.

Taytum Newell

Albert M. Zari Scholarship Recipient

Being a part of the Community Foundation scholarship committee is the highlight of my year. For many, a scholarship from the CFFRV is the reason they are able to continue reaching for their dreams and changing the future of our world. I hope each recipients knows just how inspirational they are to those of us who are lucky enough to read their stories.

Jessica Breugelmans

Scholarship Committee Member and Board Member

Give your gift of time and see what it means to the people you impact. Helping others is what life is all about.

Neal Ormond

Donor & Fund Advisor

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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